IDP Stock Market: Week 8

Have you ever been to the beach? If you have, you're familiar with tides, specifically high or low tides, affecting where you should and shouldn't set up your spot. These can change in a split second, and sometimes even the best-planned spot will get a little wet. Fantasy football is a lot like the tide. Sometimes, you prepare for change and clear of danger, but other times, the wave of injury, disappointed efforts, etc., will hit you like a giant wave from the sea! That's why you come here. To see the latest forecast of players for your IDP roster. I'm fresh, relaxed, and ready to help you dominate your league. Let's ring the bell signifying the start of our weekly market, and come and ride the tide with me!

Fortune 5

Stock Up: Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota

At the beginning of the preseason, I wrote about how I felt Pace would successfully rebound and blossom into a player we could all be proud to watch. While I believe it is too early to take a full L or W on this topic, we need to break down some context on what we are seeing from him this season. Quite frankly, when he is healthy, few linebackers are playing better than him. Through the first seven weeks, he has only played four games but has 31 tackles and two sacks in those games. Last week, he had his best game of the season with 10 total tackles, a sack, and a recovered fumble. He missed Weeks 2 and 3 with injury and has already had his bye week, so for the rest of the season, I am very bullish on his possible point production and still believe he is due for the monster rebound. He showed a glimpse of this in his last two games.

Stock Up: Roquan Smith, Baltimore

I'm not insulting your intelligence, I swear! We all know Smith is one of the best players in the game, but I wanted to make sure we are all reminded of just how good he is at his peak. He's had 6+ tackles in every game played this season and currently sits around the LB4-5 range. Last week was a masterclass, however: 11 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles, and a forced fumble. This shows us many things, but the main thing I want to take away from his herculean effort is that he is still a week-winning type of player at any given time. He is on a short list of players I wouldn't trade for ANYTHING! He has the perfect balance of consistency with boom plays, and managers everywhere know that with Smith on your team, no lead is safe for your opponent.

Stock Up: Germaine Pratt, Cincinnati

Throughout the last two seasons, I have been very vocal in my criticism of Bengals linebackers, specifically Logan Wilson. While I had to eat some crow for that last season, I still had faith that Pratt would emerge into a greater player, and so far this season, it hasn't been close! This isn't at all due to a lack of production from Wilson. However, Pratt is having a career year, and both players are in the top 10 linebackers this season, with Pratt manning the LB2 spot! What makes this even more of a slam dunk is the value for which managers likely got Pratt for being significantly lower than Wilson with all the upside for free! There have been few bright spots for Bengals defenders, but one thing is for certain: Pratt is here to stay. He could be a league-winning player if you got him for his preseason cost. If you can make it happen, I'd try to acquire him, or if I am rebuilding, I may sell him while his value is at all-time highs.

Stock Up: Dorian Williams, Buffalo

Nothing makes dynasty managers happier than seeing young players emerge in roles when given opportunities. Williams has been a great player this season in his first real season of work! Don't be afraid of the minor injury he sustained this past week. He is 23 years old, excelling in his role, averaging 10 total tackles a game, and has shown an ability to make plays outside of just making tackles for his team. He's recovered two fumbles as well as forced one himself, and something tells me as he continues to grow and understand the game, he will continue these efforts and be a big-time player in dynasty IDP. Don't be shocked if he sneaks into the top 5 linebackers by season's end.

Stock Up: Brian Branch, Detroit

This will come off as a hot take, but I seriously want to ask a question. Is Branch the best safety in IDP? I know we all love Antoine Winfield Jr. I do as well, but we need to start respecting Branch a little more than we do. He averages 2+ defended passes a game, which is a unique outlier for that statistic; he has 32 tackles in just five games played and has four interceptions through Week 7. If that isn't at least providing a candidacy for S1 in IDP Fantasy Football, then we deserve an explanation why. He's 23 years old and looks to have turned his play up significantly over his already great rookie season from last year. He's pacing for career highs in all statistical categories and overwhelming point floors compared to others in his position. He is my favorite to finish as the best player at his potion come year's end.